"Which allowed us to expand our shipping receiving department, we added a new embroidery department, new high tech equipment with what's called a bridge laser allowing us to etch on to clothing, more precise cutting in our embroidery dept," says Nathan Bentley President of Advantage Emblem and Screen Printing.

Company officials say the expansion resulted in new hires in both the embroidery and shipping departments.

Bentley credits the temperament of Duluthians for the businesses success.

"The quality of the employees we have is just incredible. I think that has to do with the region that we're in...Minnesota nice and a great work ethics here with our staff."

Cirrus Aircraft has continued expansion over the past few months with airplane sales up 20% around the globe.

Its steady growth has enabled the launch of the company's new private jet.

"We're really feeling the full effect of the investment in the jet program...In the last six months we're really starting to see the impacts of a 100 million dollar investment," says Todd Simmons of Cirrus Aircraft.

"We have a community that because of our high quality of life skilled workers want to live here. A company like AAR could have located anywhere in North America, they chose Duluth because they saw our ability to attract those skilled mechanics."

Duluth has five out of 42 expansion projects in the state.

Capital funding for the projects is up 90% over the fourth quarter in 2012.